The colors along the street still gave John headaches. He had closed his eyes ever since the boy in the white hoodie touched his hand. His lungs are clear of nicotine, so he had an easier time breathing.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzG9ZeeWSr
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John wanted to pull a flask of whiskey but his pants didn't have any pockets on them. He only had a sling bag with a word "git good" embroidered in front of it. Inside it, only bottles of perfumes, some wires, and a very heavy plastic bar with rectangular holes on the side can be found.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2caoNRtyS
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"Where the fuck am I? What is that noise?" John complained with a shaking voice.
"First pride march?" the boy asked. "Man, you have issues. This is why you should go out more."
"March? You mean like a parade? But it's in the middle of the night and it's raining!" John exclaimed.
"If you can't handle the sound of freedom, then maybe you should go to class more often." The boy answered. "Besides, it's New York! No one gives a damn!"
There was finally one thing that John Dalton understood from the boy: New York. He recalled how irritating the lights, the people, and the noise were back in his day. But with all the things going on around him right now, he had a hard time believing that it was indeed New York.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkVTyjZkP7
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"This is not New York. This is hell! Did you do this god?!" John gave the finger to the heavens above and knelt down; felt the drops of rain against his back. "I can't believe you put me here, in this god awful place. What a perfect punishment. What brilliance!"
The boy in the white hoodie kept calling him with a name that John is unfamiliar with. John can only guess if the words coming out of the boy's mouth were a slang, jargon, or devil language. It just kept on coming. He knew that it was English but only understood bits and pieces of it.
"So you better stop whatever it is you're doing. It gets wild out here on Pride March. Besides, you are late for your audition!" the boy worried.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKrNnZvktv
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"I need a fucking drink," John blurted out then stood up quickly then glanced around. As soon as he located a bar or what seemed like a bar, he went straight to it, not minding the commotion that was happening on the street.
The boy in the white hoodie chased after him and kept on mentioning the audition and how important it was. John, who still thought that he is in hell, just kept on ignoring the boy. He must be my torturer, he thought. He always hated teenagers.
John entered the bar and went straight to the bartender and ordered two glasses of whiskey on the rocks.
"Aren't you too young to be drinking?" the bartender asked.
"I'm in hell. Who cares if I'm a teenager?" John complained. "If I'm going to be here for eternity, might as well numb the pain once in a while."
The bartender was taken aback and stared at John's eye glow with determination just to get his drink. "I hear you, but I am not allowed to serve liquor to minors. Maybe I can get you some water or milk instead?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpg3MZrjFrK
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"Do you think milk is enough to knock me unconscious?" John asked the bartender with serious intent, "Two glasses of whiskey on the rocks please."
"Yo, Keanan what the hell? We are not supposed to be here," the boy in the white hoodie grabbed John's shirt and tried to pull him down from the table. "You are going to be late for the audition! We want you there sober, bro!"
Both John and the boy went out the bar back into the drizzling rain. The Pride March has already passed and street performers replaced the marching band.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mYbOnsalx
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While the boy kept on explaining, John recognizes some of the street performers were playing music from his time. It was Wonderwall by Oasis. He was bewildered. No way would Satan play a song like that in hell.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCK81yaJhQj
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John suddenly felt like he was still on earth but with more lights, more noise, and the social cues are completely different. He thought that maybe, he was reincarnated in someone else's body but in the future.
"Young man," John asked. "What year is it?"
"2023. Man, you didn't drink anything yet but you sound drunk!" the boy replied. "And we are the same age by the way."
John was reincarnated thirty years into the future and in a city that he hated. He thought that maybe the audition was a sign that he should follow. He is a director after all; acting should be a piece of cake for him.
"What was my name again? Keanan?" John smiled. "I like it. Keanan. It's weird but I think that's the point. And just for fun, can you tell me your name?"
"Sure bro whatever. It's Joe. We have known each for two years now, but whatever," Joe answered. "You should stop this already okay? It's creeping me out."
John accepted his fate and decided to play along. This time, he was sure that he is reincarnated as a young boy in New York in the year 2023, with reservations of course.
"Where is this audition by the way? You just said that we were already late, right?" Keanan asked.
"It's in Brooklyn. Cory said she is already there. They already gave a script that is going to be used for the audition," Joe explained. "They wanted to use something that we are unfamiliar with and we are only given an hour to memorize it. It's fairly short though but we only have forty five minutes left to do it."
"That seems fair." Keanan said.
Both Joe and Keanan took a cab to Brooklyn where a friend of theirs is waiting with the script. Keanan didn't know what's going to happen next. All he knew was that he was going to nail that audition.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wyrLLjD6I
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Cory, a fourteen-year old just like Keanan, was running around the streets of New York only to find Keanan and Joe near a theatre in Brooklyn. She wanted to say hello but she sensed something odd as she approached the teenage boys.
Keanan was not himself, she thought. He walked like someone who just robbed a bank: brisk and full of intent. Usually, the Keanan she knew was laid back and always on his phone. Now, he is just glancing everywhere as if it was his first time in Brooklyn.
"Hey Joe? What's up with Keanan?" Cory asked. "And what took you so long?"
"Yo, don't ask me. He looked like he was about to trip like what happened last week. I think it was another episode." Joe answered.
"He really needs to go to the doctor and stop drinking too much soda and chips," Cory said.
"More sleep and less gaming too," Joe added.
"Are you guys talking about me?" Keanan asked aggresively. "And is this the place where we'll audition? Let's get this over with."
Cory did not expect those words to come from Keanan.
"Look, here is the script. This is our first try. I am not expecting anything from you guys but I just want you to know, this is our first step to stardom!" Cory enthusiastically exclaimed.
"—first of a thousand steps for sure," Keanan blunted out. "Let me see that script."
"What's wrong with you Keanan. Yesterday, you were so excited to do the audition," Cory told Keanan, "Now you're just being cynical."
"More like a realist," Keanan replied. "And a director of many films too! Have you heard of the film Orchard by the Sea? Look it up!"
Both Cory and Joe were dumbfounded. They did not know how to respond to Keanan's sudden outburst. Keanan on the other hand examined their faces and thought that he has to keep his ego in check. Else, his social relationship with his "friends" will be harder to handle than it is. He doesn't want that to happen especially in a situation he is in.
"We are aware of the film by John Dalton. And when did you start copying him anyway?" Cory continued. "It's not a good idea to copy your idol's attitude; it's not a healthy way to acting."
Keanan looked at her and shook his head. He was an inch away from bursting into frustration again. But they were just kids and it was their first audition. Usually, he would tell them that the world of showbiz was a dog-eats-dog world. But today might not be a good day to do that.
"First of all, this script is bare. It needs more work. I think I can make a quick edit on it right now," Keanan suggested.
"What do you mean needs more work? It's a script made by Ja Hanello. Do you know who he is?" Cory asked.
"I don't who he is and I don't care. You should not look at a piece thinking that it was made by someone famous or any other human in that sense. A work of art is an ecosystem that thrives on its own," Keanan explained. "And right now, this script, this ecosystem, is in the verge of collapse!"
"Maybe that's the point? Maybe it's some kind of a deconstruction type of piece. An experimental," Joe added. "And it's not like we are going to audition for script writing. We are here to act."
"Maybe?!" Keanan asked. "Deconstruction is an exercise that writers undergo. That's for students. You don't apply that to a complete script or a story. The most successful 'experimental' films out there are considered underrated at best."
"What's wrong with underrated? I thought you liked underrated?" Cory asked and began suspecting Keanan. His word choice and the manner that he is moving his hands in the air was not the laid back Keanan she knows. "You were the one who keeps telling us that underrated films are like 'hidden gems'."
"This boy said that?" Keanan asked.
Cory and Joe were beginning to feel awkward around Keanan. It was like he was a completely different person. Keanan, on the other hand, felt a barrier that started to rise between him and the two other teens. He can't help it. An egotist like him doesn't belong anywhere in children's hearts.
"Sorry. You're right. We are here to act not to edit a script." Keanan asked for forgiveness.
"It's okay. I think we're all just nervous," Cory said.
"Agreed. Let's just all go in and give 'em hell!" Joe exclaimed.
Joe and Cory cheered gathered morale and cheered themselves up while Keanan cringed at the side. He still showed them his smile just to lighten the mood. He thought that maybe if he could nail the audition he would be able to grab hold of his current situation.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkE9PGtwjE
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